Industry, households could face planned power outa
As Heatwave Hits Europe Again, UK Plans Winter Blackouts WATCH: As another heatwave sweeps across Europe, the UK is planning for possible organized blackouts for industry and even households. Rachel Morison reports.Source: Bloomberg
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Alex Wickham and
August 9, 2022, 8:50 AM MDTUpdated onAugust 9, 2022, 10:00 PM MDT
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The UK is planning for several days over the winter when cold weather may combine with gas shortages, leading to organized blackouts for industry and even households.
Under the government’s latest “reasonable worst-case scenario,” Britain could face an electricity capacity shortfall totaling about a sixth of peak demand, even after emergency coal plants have been fired up, according to people familiar with the government’s planning. Under that outlook, below-average temperatures and reduced electricity imports from Norway and France could expose four days in January when the UK may need to trigger emergency measures to conserve gas, they said.
The scenario is “not something we expect to happen,” the government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said in a statement. “Households, businesses and industry can be confident they will get the electricity and gas they need.”
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